Monday, February 25, 2008

Cupcakes

Considering the number of cookbooks I have, I surprisingly only have one Nigella book - Nigella Bites. Searching its pages I came upon the perfect recipe that I just had to make. When you think Nigella, there really isn't anything more "Nigella" then her cupcakes and no that has no alternative meaning.

Like most of her recipes these are incredibly simple to make and taste pretty good too. You can dress them up for more special occasions or just enjoy them as is - a satisfying taste of vanilla flecked through the delicate cake.

Cupcakes[Makes about 15]

125 grams self-raising flour

125 grams soft unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

125 grams caster sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract

milk

Place the flour, butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla into the bowl of a food processor and process until combined. Add just enough milk, a tablespoon at a time, to form a smooth soft batter.

This mixture rises alot so you'll only need to fill the cases to less than half way.

Bake in a preheated 180°C/350°F for about 15 minutes or until golden.

Let them cool before icing.

Nigella gives a couple of suggestions on icing and rather than use a food dye to tint my icing I've used this - powdered Raspberries.

I've simply mixed pure icing sugar with a little of the powdered raspberries and added just enough water to form a smooth spreadable paste. The powder adds colour and also gives it a delicious raspberry taste.

In case you somehow manage not to eat them all at once, they do keep quite well for a few days.

you've inspired me again:) I'm gonna make them today, a more virtuous mixture than Nigella's, but I'm going to make your gorgeous glaze. I recently bought some extemely crispy freeze-dried berries, bursting with flavour, I'm gonna powder them and hopefully achieve the same result as you, what'd you think?

I was obsessed with powdered raspberries when I wanted to make raspberry macarons. The recipe in Michel Roux's Eggs cookbook says to dry them in the oven overnight at the lowest temperature. Mine became mush because of all the water so this sounds like a dream!